– All six patients treated with VX-880
engrafted islet cells, produced endogenous insulin (C-peptide) and
had improved glycemic control while reducing or eliminating insulin
use –
– The two patients with at least one year of
follow-up met the criteria for the primary endpoint of elimination
of severe hypoglycemic events (SHEs) and HbA1c <7.0 –
– Both of these patients also achieved insulin
independence with HbA1c values of 5.3% and 6.0% –
– VX-880 generally well tolerated in all
patients dosed to-date –
– Based on these results, trial advanced to
Part C with concurrent dosing –
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today
presented data on all patients dosed in Parts A and B of its Phase
1/2 clinical trial of VX-880, an investigational stem cell-derived,
fully differentiated islet cell therapy, in people with type 1
diabetes (T1D) with impaired hypoglycemic awareness and severe
hypoglycemic events (SHEs). All six patients treated with VX-880
had undetectable fasting C-peptide (endogenous insulin secretion)
at baseline, a history of recurrent SHEs in the year prior to
treatment and required an average of 34.0 units of insulin per day.
Following treatment, all six patients demonstrated endogenous
insulin secretion, improved glycemic control as measured by HbA1c,
improved time-in-range on continuous glucose monitoring, and
reduction or elimination of exogenous insulin use. Patients with
greater than 90 days of follow-up had elimination of SHEs in the
evaluation period.
One patient in Part A received a half-target dose of VX-880 and
was followed for approximately nine months, at which time this
patient received a second half dose. This patient subsequently
withdrew consent (not related to adverse events [AEs]) and was
therefore not evaluable for the primary endpoint.
Two patients treated with VX-880 had at least 12 months of
follow-up after the last infusion and were therefore evaluable for
the study’s primary efficacy endpoint of elimination of SHEs
between Day 90 and Month 12 with a reduction of HbA1c (<7.0% or
a decrease of at least 1% compared to baseline). Both of these
patients met the criteria for the primary endpoint of the study. In
addition, these two patients are insulin independent. Patient A1
had HbA1c of 5.3% at Month 21, compared to 8.6% at baseline, and
Patient B1 had HbA1c of 6.0% at Month 12, compared to 7.6% at
baseline. Both patients showed over 95% time-in-range based on
continuous glucose monitoring. The ADA recommended target is
≥70%.
The three additional patients in Part B, each administered the
full target dose of VX-880 given as a single infusion, have
follow-up between 29 and 90 days and have shown endogenous insulin
secretion, reduction in HbA1c, improvements in glucose
time-in-range, and reductions in daily exogenous insulin use. Their
trajectory is consistent with that observed in the two patients
with more than one year of follow-up at equivalent periods of
follow-up after VX-880 infusion.
VX-880 has been generally well tolerated in all patients dosed
to date. The majority of AEs were mild or moderate, and there were
no serious AEs related to VX-880 treatment. The most common AEs
were dehydration, diarrhea, hypomagnesemia and rash. As previously
reported, one subject had SHEs in the perioperative period.
As a result of these safety and efficacy data in Parts A and B,
the independent data review committee has recommended moving to
Part C of the trial, which allows for concurrent dosing of patients
at the full target dose of VX-880.
“These data represent a foundational advance in the potential
treatment of T1D, bringing us one step closer to a potentially
curative therapy for patients who are waiting,” said Felicia
Pagliuca, Ph.D., Disease Area Executive, Type 1 Diabetes at Vertex.
“These data are particularly meaningful in the context of our
overall investigational T1D program, as these same VX-880 cells are
the building blocks for our Phase 1/2 VX-264 cells-plus-device
program, as well as our research-stage hypoimmune islet cell
program.”
“The reproducible efficacy across multiple patients and
endpoints, including the level of glucose control and the
elimination of SHEs, observed in this trial is highly unusual in
T1D patients treated with exogenous insulin, wherein only ~25% of
people with T1D meet the recommended HbA1c target of 7.0%, and is
truly remarkable,” said Trevor Reichman, M.D., Department of
Surgery, University of Toronto. “The normalization of HbA1c without
the need for exogenous insulin one year after therapy with VX-880
is historic and offers hope that the transformative therapies the
T1D community has been waiting for may finally become reality.”
These data were presented during the American Diabetes
Association 83rd Scientific Sessions Conference on June 23, 2023 in
San Diego, California at 3:50 p.m. PT as an oral presentation,
“Glucose-Dependent Insulin Production and Insulin-Independence in
Type 1 Diabetes from Stem Cell-Derived, Fully Differentiated Islet
Cells: Updated Data from the VX-880 Clinical Trial”
(abstract/publication #836-P), as part of the “Designer Beta Cells”
symposium from 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. PT. These data will be shared
as a poster on Sunday, June 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
PT.
About Vertex T1D Programs in Clinical Development
About VX-880 VX-880 is an
investigational allogeneic stem cell-derived, fully differentiated,
insulin-producing islet cell therapy manufactured using proprietary
technology. VX-880 is being evaluated for patients who have T1D
with impaired hypoglycemic awareness and severe hypoglycemia.
VX-880 has the potential to restore the body’s ability to regulate
glucose levels by restoring pancreatic islet cell function,
including glucose responsive insulin production. VX-880 is
delivered by an infusion into the hepatic portal vein and requires
chronic immunosuppressive therapy to protect the islet cells from
immune rejection.
The VX-880 trial has expanded to additional
sites that are active and enrolling in Norway, Switzerland and the
Netherlands.
VX-880 was recently granted PRIME designation
by the European Medicines Agency in March 2023, in addition to Fast
Track Designation by the U.S. FDA in March 2021. PRIME designation
is granted to innovative new therapies that have demonstrated the
potential to significantly address an unmet medical need.
About the VX-880 Phase 1/2 Clinical
Trial The clinical trial is a Phase 1/2, multi-center,
single-arm, open-label study in patients who have T1D with impaired
hypoglycemic awareness and severe hypoglycemia. This study is
designed as a sequential, multi-part clinical trial to evaluate the
safety and efficacy of VX-880. Approximately 17 patients will be
enrolled in the clinical trial. Enrollment is ongoing in this
study.
About VX-264 VX-264 is an
investigational cell therapy in which allogeneic human stem
cell-derived islets are encapsulated in a channel array device
designed to shield the cells from the body’s immune system. VX-264
is designed to be surgically implanted and is currently being
evaluated for patients with T1D.
About the VX-264 Phase 1/2 Clinical
Trial The clinical trial is a Phase 1/2, single-arm, open-label
study in patients who have T1D. This will be a sequential,
multi-part clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and
efficacy of VX-264. Approximately 17 patients will be enrolled in
the global clinical trial. Enrollment is ongoing in this study.
About Type 1 Diabetes T1D results from the autoimmune
destruction of insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas,
leading to loss of insulin production and impairment of blood
glucose control. The absence of insulin leads to abnormalities in
how the body processes nutrients, leading to high blood glucose
levels. High blood glucose can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and,
over time, to complications such as kidney disease/failure, eye
disease (including vision loss), heart disease, stroke, nerve
damage and even death.
Due to the limitations and complexities of insulin delivery
systems, it can be difficult to achieve and maintain balance in
glucose control in people with T1D. Current standards of care do
not address the underlying causes of the disease, and there are
limited treatment options beyond insulin for the management of T1D;
there is currently no cure for diabetes.
About Vertex Vertex is a global biotechnology company
that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative
medicines for people with serious diseases. The company has
multiple approved medicines that treat the underlying cause of
cystic fibrosis (CF) — a rare, life-threatening genetic disease —
and has several ongoing clinical and research programs in CF.
Beyond CF, Vertex has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational
small molecule, mRNA, cell and genetic therapies (including gene
editing) in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into
causal human biology, including sickle cell disease, beta
thalassemia, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, acute and neuropathic
pain, type 1 diabetes and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex's global
headquarters is now located in Boston's Innovation District and its
international headquarters is in London. Additionally, the company
has research and development sites and commercial offices in North
America, Europe, Australia and Latin America. Vertex is
consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to
work, including 13 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top
Employers list and one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of
innovation, visit www.vrtx.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This
press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended,
including, without limitation, (i) statements by Felicia Pagliuca,
Ph.D., and Trevor Reichman, M.D., in this press release, (ii) our
plans, expectations for, and the potential benefits of VX-880 and
VX-264, and (iii) our plans for dosing and enrollment of patients.
While Vertex believes the forward-looking statements contained in
this press release are accurate, these forward-looking statements
represent the company's beliefs only as of the date of this press
release and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual events or results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that
data from a limited number of patients may not be indicative of
final clinical trial results, that data from the company's research
and development programs may not support registration or further
development of its compounds due to safety, efficacy, and other
risks listed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Vertex's most
recent annual report and subsequent quarterly reports filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and available
through the company's website at www.vrtx.com. You should not place
undue reliance on these statements, or the scientific data
presented. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the
information contained in this press release as new information
becomes available.
(VRTX-GEN)
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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Investors:
Susie Lisa, +1 617-341-6108 Or Manisha Pai, +1 617-961-1899 Or
Miroslava Minkova, +1 617-341-6135
Media: mediainfo@vrtx.com or U.S.: +1 617-341-6992 or
Heather Nichols: +1 617-839-3607 or International: +44 20 3204
5275
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